HH62/2/ROXBUR/9

Transcription

[Page] 8

The subjoined table gives the populations of the Districts
and the decrease since 1881 :-

[Table inserted]

The decrease in fairly uniform over the whole County, there
being only seven registration districts in which a slight
increase has occurred.
During the last ten years a similar decrease has been noted
in other agricultural districts in Scotland, and is doubtless
due to the effects of bad seasons and the conversion of arable
to grass land. One would naturally expect to find that the
poorer classes have at present more house accommodation than
they had ten years ago, and it will be interesting to notice,
on the publication of the complete Census Report for 1891,
if the number of inhabited houses in the County has fallen in
proportion to the population.
In addition to an accurate estimate of the population a
medical officer should have reliable information of the number
of births, deaths, and marriages in his district; and besides the
mere number of deaths, he should also know the age and sex
of the deceased, the occupation, and the cause of death. The
use to be made of the last particulars is sufficiently obvious,
and the birth-rate is required because it influences the death-
rate; whilst the number of marriages, again, affects the birth-
rate. The Public Health Committee authorised me to expend
about ten pounds in obtaining returns of deaths from the
local registrars - a sum which I found to be hardly sufficient
for the purpose, but after numerous interviews I am now -
thanks to the good nature of many registrars - supplied with

[Page] 9

the necessary information as regards deaths, but have no
returns of births made to me. The arrangement made is that
each registrar is paid 3d. for each death returned, with a
minimum fee of 5s. a-year.
As the information is required for public purposes, such a
method of obtaining it is unsatisfactory. Representations
have already been made to the Secretary for Scotland on the
subject, but without immediate effect; and apparently legis-
lation is the only remedy. There can be no doubt that it is
required in this instance, seeing how largely local authorities
and medical officers have to depend on vital statistics in
judging of the necessity for sanitary improvements.
BIRTHS. - In the County, including the towns, there were
1283 births in 1891, equal to 24·24 births per 1000 persons
living, on an estimated population of 52,963. The mean
rate for Scotland for the ten years 1880-89 was 32·3.
The above has been taken from the Registrar-General's
report, and I am unable to give the same information for the
County, excluding the burghs, not being authorised to obtain
the necessary data from the local registrars.
DEATHS. - In 1891 there were 1010 deaths in the County,
including the burghs, equal to an annual rate of 19·082 per
1000 persons living, on the estimated population, and, as with
the births, this may be compared with 19·000, the mean rate
for Scotland for the ten years 1880-89.
During the 22 weeks ending 2d January, 1892, there were
178 deaths in the County, excluding burghs, equal to an
annual death-rate per 1000 persons living of 15·867 on the
census population of 26,605, to 15·899 on an estimated
population.
In the four parishes, Hawick, Wilton, Jedburgh, and
Kelso - that is, the parishes containing the towns - the rate
for the same period was 19·385, calculated on an estimated
population of 30,540.
The mortality tables may be consulted for the detailed
information of the ages at which deaths have occurred and